Holding clip for mounting functional elements on a bolt

ABSTRACT

4. Holding clip according to claim 2 [or 3], characterized by the fact that the rod (12) is provided with a support tab (20) that is laterally spaced apart from the upper tab (17) on its underside that faces the bolt (1), wherein the support tab contacts the end face (16) of the bolt (1) during the insertion of the bolt.

[0001] The invention pertains to a holding clip for mounting functional elements on a bolt, in particular, on a longitudinally ribbed plastic bolt, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Holding clips of this type usually contain a receptacle body for the bolt with several opposing holding lamellas that are offset in a step-shaped fashion, wherein the holding edges of said lamellas which are directed toward the center firmly adjoin the bolt wall (see DE-PS 34 08 612).

[0003] DE 199 32 862 A1 describes a similarly acting holding clip for being separably mounted on a longitudinally ribbed plastic bolt. In this case, flexible support legs that protrude transversely downward are integrally formed onto the lower edge of the receptacle body. These support legs are spread apart when the holding clip is pressed down onto the bolt and thus generate a counterpressure which ensures that the holding edges engage into the bolt ribs.

[0004] In order to properly attach these holding clips, it is important that the holding clip is pressed down onto the bolt to a sufficient degree. The question whether the clip is pressed down onto the bolt “to a sufficient degree” solely depends on the subjective opinion of the assembler. Depending on the force exerted while pressing down the clip, it may occur—in particular, at mounting points that are not clearly visible—that the bottom of the holding clip does not contact the bolt. If the clip loosely tumbles on the bolt in such instances, it may occur that the clip becomes free and separates from the bolt.

[0005] Consequently, this invention is based on the objective of designing the holding clip in such a way that the assembler is provided with a reliable indication of a correctly performed mounting process. According to the invention, this objective is attained due to the fact that a flexible rod that transversely extends over the receptacle chamber is integrally formed onto one side wall above the holding lamellas, wherein the free end of said flexible rod extends up to a point that is situated slightly underneath a projection on the opposite side wall, and due to the fact that the receptacle chamber is covered by a transverse wall slightly above the rod, wherein the free rod end audibly impacts on this transverse wall after it has passed the projection during the insertion of the bolt.

[0006] Since the audible impact might not be sufficiently loud in light of the general noise level in an assembly hall, one additional development of the invention proposes that an upwardly protruding hammer-like tab is integrally formed onto the upper side of the rod a short distance before its free end, and that a corresponding recess is provided in the transverse wall above the tab, wherein the tab engages into said recess through the rod when it passes the projection. In this case, the assembler is, in addition to perceiving an audible impact, also able to sense the engagement of the hammer-like tab in the recess with the tip of the thumb.

[0007] The sensation of this confirmation of a properly performed mounting process can, according to another characteristic of the invention, be intensified by dimensioning the height of the tab such that the tip of the tab protrudes from the upper side of the transverse wall by a short distance after it engages into the recess. In addition to intensifying the impact on the tip of the thumb, the protruding tip visually indicates that the web has passed the projection.

[0008] Several embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the figures and described in greater detail below. The figures show:

[0009]FIG. 1, a side view of a holding clip before it is pressed down onto a longitudinally ribbed plastic bolt;

[0010]FIG. 2, the same holding clip while it is pressed down onto the plastic bolt;

[0011]FIG. 3, the same holding clip while it is pressed down, namely shortly before it reaches the end position;

[0012]FIG. 4, the same holding clip in the end position, in which the rod is forced upward;

[0013]FIG. 5, the holding clip in the same mounting position, namely with a hammer-like tab on the free end of the rod which engages into a recess;

[0014]FIG. 6, the holding clip in the same mounting position, namely with the tip of the tab protruding from the recess, and

[0015]FIG. 7, an example for mounting a holding clip that is arranged in a mounting bowl.

[0016] The holding clip illustrated in the figures serves for mounting functional elements on a bolt 1, in particular, a longitudinally ribbed plastic bolt. In this case, the clip consists of a receptacle body 2 that accommodates the bolt 1 and rod-like holding means 3 for the functional elements that are not illustrated in the figures, wherein said holding means are integrally formed onto the receptacle body. The functional elements may, for example, consist of cable harnesses that are fixed on the holding rods 3 by means of an adhesive tape.

[0017] The receptacle body 2 is provided with several opposing holding lamellas 4 that are offset in a step-shaped fashion and contain preferably semicircular holding edges 6 that are directed toward the center and, after pressing the holding clip onto the longitudinally ribbed bolt, adjoin the bolt ribs 6. The holding lamellas 4 are arranged between two side walls 7 and 8 that are terminated on the lower end in the form of a circular edge 9 and covered by a transverse wall 10 on the upper end. Three flexible support legs 11 that protrude transversely downward are integrally formed onto the edge 9 of the receptacle body 2, wherein said support legs are spread apart when the holding clip is pressed down onto the bolt and thusly generate a counterpressure. The holding edges 5 of the lamellas 4 are directed transversely upward in such a way that they engage into the bolt ribs 6 due to the counterpressure and thus ensure a rigid anchoring of the holding clip on the bolt 1.

[0018] A flexible rod 12 that transversely extends over the receptacle chamber 13 is integrally formed onto the side wall 7 above the holding lamellas 4. The free springable end 14 of the rod 12 ends slightly underneath a projection 15 that is integrally formed onto the opposite side wall 8. The aforementioned transverse wall 10 covers the receptacle chamber 13 slightly above the rod 12. When inserting the bolt 1 into the receptacle chamber 13, the free rod end 14 is pressed upward by the end face 16 of the bolt 1 (FIGS. 2 and 3) and audibly impacts on the transverse wall 10 (FIG. 4) after passing the projection 15.

[0019] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, an upwardly protruding hammer-like tab 17 is provided on the upper side of the rod 12, namely a short distance before the end 14, and a corresponding recess 18 into which the tab 17 engages after passing the projection 15 is arranged in the transverse wall 10. This not only produces an audible impact, but the assembler is also able to sense the tip 19 of the tab engaging into the recess 18 with the thumb.

[0020] In the embodiment according to FIG. 6, the height of the tab 17 is chosen such that the tip 19 of the tab slightly protrudes from the upper side of the transverse wall 10 after it engages into the recess 18. Due to this measure, the protruding tip 19 of the tab can be sensed in a superior fashion. In addition, this provides a visual indication for the correct mounting of the holding clip.

[0021] In all embodiments, the rod 12 contains one additional support tab 20 that is spaced apart from the upper tab 17 and arranged on its underside facing the bolt 1. This support tab contacts the end face 16 of the bolt 1 when the bolt is inserted into the clip. This results in an optimal bending and prestress of the rod 12.

[0022]FIG. 7 shows one advantageous example for mounting the holding clip according to the invention, wherein said mounting clip is arranged in a separate mounting bowl 21. This mounting bowl 21 consists of two semicircular side walls 22 that are connected to one another via a common base plate 23. A through-hole 24 for the rod-shaped holding means 3 is recessed in both directions between the side walls 22. The holding means may, for example, be used for holding a cable harness that is fixed on the holding rods 3 by means of an adhesive tape. 

1. Holding clip for mounting functional elements on a bolt, in particular, on a longitudinally ribbed plastic bolt, consisting of a receptacle body (2) for the bolt (1) and holding means (3) for the functional elements which are integrally formed onto said receptacle body, wherein the receptacle body (2) is provided with several opposing holding lamellas (4) that are offset in a step-shaped fashion, wherein the holding edges (5) of said lamellas which are directed toward the center firmly adjoin the bolt wall, and wherein flexible support legs (11) that protrude transversely downward are integrally formed onto the lower edge (9) of the receptacle body (2), characterized by the fact that a flexible rod (12) that transversely extends over the receptacle chamber (13) is integrally formed onto one side wall (7) above the holding lamellas (4), wherein the free end (14) of the flexible rod extends up to slightly underneath a projection (15) on the opposite side wall (8), and by the fact that the receptacle chamber (13) is covered by a transverse wall (10) slightly above the rod (12), wherein the free rod end (14) audibly impacts on the transverse wall when the bolt (1) is inserted into the clip, namely after it passes the projection (15).
 2. Holding clip according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that an upwardly protruding hammer-like tab (17) is integrally formed onto the upper side of the rod (12) a short distance before its free end (14), and by the fact that a corresponding recess (18) is provided in the transverse wall (10) above the tab (17), wherein the tab (17) engages into said recess through the rod (12) after it passes the projection (15).
 3. Holding clip according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the height of the tab (17) is dimensioned such that the tip (19) of the tab slightly protrudes from the upper side of the transverse wall (10) after it engages into the recess (18).
 4. Holding clip according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by the fact that the rod (12) is provided with a support tab (20) that is laterally spaced apart from the upper tab (17) on its underside that faces the bolt (1), wherein the support tab contacts the end face (16) of the bolt (1) during the insertion of the bolt. 